Kano, northern Nigeria’s largest city, has been hit by two attacks blamed on Boko Haram in recent months, including a bomb blast at a public health college which killed at least eight last month.

The worsening violence yesterday prompted Kano’s emir to cancel Eid festivities -- marking the end of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan -- which were due to begin next week. “Given the critical situation we are in, the royal highness (of Kano state, Emir Sanusi Lamido Sanusi) has suspended all festivities associated with the eminence, including the Durbar and other traditional events that are held during the Eid festival,” an aide to the emir, Aminu Ado Bayero, said.